TELEGRAM SAVES LIVES: Blood donor becomes grateful blood recipient

Graham Wells with grandson Jack Alexander Wells and Graham’s wife, Elaine Wells. — Contributed photo

Editor’s note: The annual Telegram Saves Lives campaign runs until Oct. 26. As part of our efforts to encourage people to give blood, we’re running a series of letters from people whose lives were changed by blood donation. Graham Wells of St. John’s submitted this one.

I had a new lease on life. After losing more than 100 pounds in 2017, a newly established healthy lifestyle provided me with the freedom to spend more time with family and friends without the complications and worry that come from medications and diabetes, a disease I’d managed for 25 years.

Unfortunately, that same year, my condition suddenly changed. After a battery of tests, I was diagnosed with renal failure.

A busy lawyer, I had to undergo hemodialysis three times a week. Each session requires a four-hour treatment.

For patients like me, blood transfusions are needed periodically to ensure an adequate number of red blood cells are maintained in my body. I usually require two units of blood every six to eight weeks.

The treatment consists of being hooked up to a dialysis machine that filters and cleans my blood to remove any toxins that have accumulated since my previous treatment. During each treatment, my blood pressure is checked frequently, and excess fluid is removed that has accumulated in the body since my previous last hemodialysis treatment.

Then my health took another turn, this time with the discovery of cancer in one of his kidneys. That kidney was removed, but that surgery presented another problem.

What can you do for dialysis patients who have had a cancerous kidney removed? Normally, if a non-cancerous kidney is removed, the medical staff will administer a hormone during every hemodialysis treatment that stimulates the growth of red blood cells. However, for those patients who have had a cancerous kidney removed, there is high risk in administering the hormone as it may stimulate growth of any remaining cancer cells in the body.

For patients like me, blood transfusions are needed periodically to ensure an adequate number of red blood cells are maintained in my body. I usually require two units of blood every six to eight weeks.

That’s when my role in Canada’s lifeline changed. As an RCMP officer 52 years ago, I began donating blood. Now as a recipient, my outlook has changed. A friend suggested working with Canadian Blood Services in St. John’s to host an “In Honour” donor event.

Gordon Skiffington, territory manager for Canadian Blood Services, Newfoundland, explains that “(It’s) an opportunity for friends, families and colleagues of a blood recipient to come together and encourage others to donate in that person’s honour. Every unit of blood donated during the event helps patients in our community, and empowers people, knowing they are doing what they can to help.”

My birthday was approaching in July, so my family and I planned the In Honour event this past June. I fell in love with the idea – mainly because I saw it not only as a gift to me, but a great gift to possibly many others.

Because I will need blood as part of his treatment for the unforeseeable future, I rely on Canadians to donate blood regularly.

Thank you to all the donors. You are the people who have realized you can be a part of someone’s lifeline. You are not “go-getters,” you are “go-givers.” In my view, nothing is as important in life.

Also from Telegram Saves Lives campaign

• Grateful for our little warrior

• I wouldn’t be here without blood transfusions

• Blood donations, new heart saved my baby

• Community leader fighting cancer gives thanks